The Man I Hate by Hildreth Scott

Author:Hildreth, Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eralde Publishing
Published: 2020-05-09T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Marge was on the top step of a three-foot step ladder, washing her windows. The day’s attire was a pair of bluish green pants that came to mid-calf, and a royal blue top. I would have never thought to put them together, but they looked remarkable.

I stepped into the street and shook my head. “You’re going to fall if you’re not careful.”

“I’ve been washing these windows like this for longer than I care to admit,” she said over her shoulder. “I’m just about done.”

“You’re making me nervous.”

She wiped the window with the towel she held, laughing all the while. “Well, you’re making me nervous.”

I cringed as she swayed back and forth, rubbing like her life depended on it. “Sorry.”

She leaned her head from side to side, looking for streaks. When she found them, she wiped the glass vigorously until they were gone.

She took one last look at the window, and then began her journey down the ladder. “Have you ever struggled with something you wanted to say but couldn’t decide if there was enough value in mentioning it to go ahead and mention it?”

“I suppose.”

She leaned the ladder against the side of the house and draped her rag over the top rung. She walked to the curb and then turned and came up the street almost even with where I stood, but across the street.

She brushed the wrinkles from her top. “I can’t decide whether or not to bring something up. There’s a part of me wants to mention it, but the part of me that’s reserved tells me to keep my mouth shut.” She looked up. “The part of me that’s reserved is a small part.”

I shrugged. “I say mention it.”

She smiled. “Alright, I will.” She nodded toward Braxton’s house, which was right behind me. “The other night you were standing on your porch talking to Braxton, and you pulled your shirt over your head. It looked to me like something that was deliberately flirtatious. Has there been progress made since we last spoke of him?”

My face went flush. “Uhhm. You saw that, huh?”

“Honey, I think the entire neighborhood saw it.”

“I was trying to cheer him up.”

“Did it work?” she asked.

I was so embarrassed. “he seemed to enjoy it, yes.”

“Well, I suppose that’s all that matters.” She touched the sides of her snow-white curls as if to make sure they were still there. “Are you two seeing one another now?”

“I wouldn’t say that, no.”

Her brows raised. “What would you say then?”

“Well, we had a virtual dinner the other night. It was fun. We did it over our telephones on a video call. Have you even seen one of those?”

“I have them with my sister all the time.”

“Well, we cooked dinner together on a video chat. Then, we ate together. We’ve been doing something together each day over video chat.”

“Sounds like you two are sweet on one another.”

“He’s nice,” I said. “Or, maybe I should say he can be nice.”

“Men are like watermelons,” she said. “It’s what’s inside that counts.

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